Old Mill Brewery, Littleton

The first brewery I went to when I moved to Denver in 1995 was the historic Columbine Mill Brewery in Old Town Littleton. Over the years it has changed owners, brewers, and names. Since 2008 it has been the Old Mill Brewery with Greg Shofner as the one man brew staff. Known for its rotating selection of fruit flavored beers, the Old Mill is a local neighbor favorite.

The Friday we sampled was quiet, even though it was a holiday week. With two seating areas inside and a deck for those sunny Colorado days, there was no wait. The staff were very attentive and knowledgeable, starting us off with a flight of the fruit beers.

Apple Crisp Wheat - Light with a distinctive apple taste, this beer was not overpowering apple like the popular Shock Top Honey Crisp. If you are seeking a more forward apple taste, they serve a hard apple cider.

Strawberry Wheat - Our least favorite of the flight, we both thought the strawberry flavor was too candy like for a beer.

Apricot Wheat - A good summer drink, perhaps less fruity than the popular Pyramid Apricot Ale.

Passion Fruit Wheat - The reason we returned to the Old Mill, Passion Fruit is one of Mari's favorite flavors since our year in Australia. The beer proved to be up to Mari' expectations, not too sweet, but tropical.

Hazelnut Stout - Rich and creamy stout with hazelnut and coffee tones. Surprisingly, this was a hit with Mari, who generally likes lighter beers. I like this one too, but let Mari finish it. One of the better beers of the session.

Coconut Porter - A staple of the brewer, this beer has a strong coconut aroma, reminding me of suntan lotion and summer beaches. The taste reminded me of a German Chocolate cake with the coconut and chocolate tones. I liked this one but Mari passed as she does not like coconut.

Cherry Stout - The brewer does a good stout and the cherry flavor was balanced with coco notes to remind us of chocolate covered cherry associated with the holiday season. We had recently sampled the Sam Adams seasonal Chocolate Cherry Bock, and I am hard put to decide between the two. Great job.

The brewery has a full food menu serving lunch and dinner pub fare. We both had hamburgers that were hand formed, not frozen, and cooked to order. A great accompaniment to a fine selection of beers.

Parking can be tight in Old Town, but the Brewery is just off the bike path and two blocks to the light rail station. Old Town offers a selection of restaurants, shops, and entertainment to round out your visit.